Social media has become a game-changer for small businesses. It has become the marketing platform that provides the best results for the lowest cost. Accounts are free and easy to maintain. In this article, we’ll explore five things you can do to get the most out of social media.
Post Consistently
Consistency is key. Those who post consistently are more likely to have better interaction with their audience. A part of being consistent is making sure your business is visible on all major platforms. Make sure you have accounts on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Youtube is another great option if you often share videos.
Have a Plan
When you plan your posts out by week or by month it makes being consistent easier because you know what you need to post and when. If you struggle to get your posts out on time try using a platform like Hootsuite or Later to pre-schedule your posts. These sites allow you to post on all your social media accounts at once. Hootsuite is user-friendly and allows you to schedule only posts in advance. Later allows you to schedule both posts and stories. Beyond these two, there are several other options for scheduling posts. Find one that best fits your needs.
Use Your Stories
According to SocialMediaWeek.org, Most people scroll through Instagram posts with the sound off, but 70% of them watch Instagram stories with the sound on, 20% of stories result in a direct message from the viewer. Stories on Instagram and Facebook are one of the best ways to engage your audience. They allow your audience to participate in polls, quizzes, open response boxes, and more. It’s a simple way to connect with your customer. Stories disappear after 24 hours, but that doesn’t meant they’re gone forever. You can save stories into highlight sections that remain on the top of your profile page. This is perfect for storing information clients refer to often such as pricing, FAQs, or some of your top content. When people visit your profile page they will likely click on one of your highlights to learn more about what you do. Both stories and highlights are features available on Facebook and Instagram.
Encourage Interaction
In addition to interacting via stories, strive to put a call to action at the end of each post. This lets your audience know what you want them to do because of this post. As valuable as it is for your followers to interact with you, it is also important for you to engage with them. Comment on their posts, respond to their stories, let them know you’re not just a computer spitting out content, you’re present, and willing to interact. Engaging with your customers online helps foster relationships that help small businesses thrive.
Stick to Your Brand
If you don’t have a branding guide, create one. Pinpoint the fonts, colors, textures, and common photos you use in your posts. Save them into one convenient folder to refer to later. When you post using the same colors, fonts, etc, it gives the visual clues needed to establish consistency and create a recognizable brand. Your followers should be able to see your post and identify that it was posted by your business without seeing your profile tag at the top of the post. Canva is a wonderful design website that makes brand consistency easy. There are free and paid options for this service.
Social media can make a big difference for your business if you use it in the right way. Applying these tips will make social media work for you. It takes effort, but over time you will see the positive results add up.
SMW, S. (2017, January 12). Ads and Analytics are coming to Instagram Stories. Retrieved October 06, 2020, from https://socialmediaweek.org/blog/2017/01/ads-analytics-instagram-stories/
FAQs about Maximizing Social Media for Small Businesses
1. How important is consistency in social media posting for small businesses? Consistency is crucial for small businesses on social media. Posting regularly keeps your audience engaged and increases interaction. It helps maintain visibility and credibility. Consistent posting across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn ensures you reach a broader audience.
2. What tools can I use to help plan and schedule my social media posts? Platforms like Hootsuite and Later are excellent for planning and scheduling social media posts. They allow you to schedule posts in advance, making it easier to maintain consistency. Hootsuite focuses on post scheduling, while Later offers scheduling for both posts and stories. Find the platform that best fits your needs and workflow.
3. How effective are Instagram and Facebook Stories for engaging with my audience? Instagram and Facebook Stories are highly effective for engaging with your audience. According to SocialMediaWeek.org, a significant percentage of users watch Stories with sound on, and they often result in direct messages from viewers. Stories offer interactive features like polls, quizzes, and open response boxes, enhancing audience engagement and connection with your brand.
4. Why is it important to encourage interaction with my audience on social media? Encouraging interaction on social media helps build relationships with your audience, which is essential for small businesses. Including calls to action in your posts prompts your audience to engage, whether through likes, comments, or shares. Additionally, actively engaging with your audience by responding to comments and messages fosters a sense of community and trust around your brand.
5. How can I ensure brand consistency across my social media platforms? Brand consistency is vital for establishing a recognizable identity on social media. Creating a branding guide that outlines your brand’s fonts, colors, textures, and common imagery is essential. Tools like Canva can help maintain brand consistency by providing templates and design features aligned with your brand guidelines. Consistent branding helps your audience easily identify your posts and strengthens brand recognition.
